Smallmouth
Mike floated yesterday and found some very active fish in shallow water, no question pre-spawn males. He also had some larger females in out in the creek eat and unfortunately some large fish were lost at the boat. The fishing has been good on Sugar Creek and the White both, unfortunately because of the rains yesterday and today we had to cancel two trips for today. We hope we can get back on later in the week.
White Bass
The Whities have continued to be pretty strong with some larger fish being caught and a few more females lately. Unfortunately we are seeing a rise in Yellow Bass the last couple of years and it may be having an effect on the White Bass population. I had a conversation with fisheries biologist Rhett Wisener about it today. If you want to know more about that conversation sign up for our newsletter, I will have more on this later in the week.
News
The Smallmouth Spawning Skinny 4/24/12
Marc and I floated Sugar today and have a pretty good idea of where the spawn is. With reports of fish on beds weeks ago it was clear at the time the spawning cycle was beginning early. With cooler temps over the last 3 weeks we wondered where that left the spawn.
We got an up close look at several beds that either had males on them or beds that were enpty. The empty beds had no eggs or fry on them. The beds we saw with males had no females in sight. We spotted several large fish out in the holes and in mid river runs. Amongst the large females mid river were more immature fish than maybe I have ever seen in Sugar. A really good sign for the future! Water temps never reached 60 today and it is clear after looking at all the info we collected we determined that the females are all pre-spawn and the males have proabably been off and on the beds for some time. There are areas that always have beds that have no beds yet.
I want to point out. Over the next few days if you fish please recognize that spawning fish are the future. Avoid walking around spawning beds and please avoid dropping flies on beds and pestering fish. These fish are trying to make our fishing better so let them.
We got an up close look at several beds that either had males on them or beds that were enpty. The empty beds had no eggs or fry on them. The beds we saw with males had no females in sight. We spotted several large fish out in the holes and in mid river runs. Amongst the large females mid river were more immature fish than maybe I have ever seen in Sugar. A really good sign for the future! Water temps never reached 60 today and it is clear after looking at all the info we collected we determined that the females are all pre-spawn and the males have proabably been off and on the beds for some time. There are areas that always have beds that have no beds yet.
I want to point out. Over the next few days if you fish please recognize that spawning fish are the future. Avoid walking around spawning beds and please avoid dropping flies on beds and pestering fish. These fish are trying to make our fishing better so let them.
Fishing Report 4/23/12
Sugar Creek was pretty good up until the cold front of last night. Mike floated today and saw only one fish on a bed and caught only about a dozen fish. The colder water temps have prbably pushed the males off the beds and slowed things down a little. Water temps have been going down into the 40's at night. With warm days this time of the year Sugar may have 12 degree swings in water temps. Water temps didn't reach 60 today.
Marc and Chad will both be on Sugar on Tuesday and will see if a warmer night will help things. There is a chance some of the females are done. We have seen males on beds for 3 weeks now. Temps have moved them on and off a few times but with a couple of decent days I would think the remaining females will get it going and be off into the holes sulking soon. If you are catching a bunch of small fish and nothing bigger it is a very good indication the females are up with the males and the only thing left are small immature fish in the holes.
Steelhead Report - Schmidt Outfiitters 4/17/12
Today is April 17th. In a normal spring season the Spring run of Michigan Steelhead would be peaking this week. This is not a normal spring here or anywhere across North America. Mother nature brought warm temps and sunny skies early this year, way early. In all the time we have been recording temperatures this year broke all records.
So, what's happening now?
Now, on the Manistee River is a happening place. Wave after wave of new Steelhead have moved in and are headed upriver to spawn. Reports on web sites that the run is over and put a fork in it a couple weeks ago was quite simply a voice of inexperience. Yesterday our guides reported and caught many, many new Steelhead.
I have said all along that Steelhead or any migratory fish species are motivated by several things, but one of the strongest motivators is "Solstice", or season. Sure water temperatures and flow will and can trigger a a early run upriver but not all fish will respond to this. This year has proved this true. For 40 years I have studied and fly-fished Michigan Steelhead. What I have observed in these years is that instinct and genetics of this great fish continues to surprise and outsmart man.
The fact that most anglers and transient guides have listened to web reports and gone home has presented some rare April opportunities to fish Steelhead undisturbed by anglers.
The weather forecast for the coming week or so looks cold and should keep water temps optimum for Steelhead. My suggestion would be to pack a bag and head to the river.
So, what's happening now?
Now, on the Manistee River is a happening place. Wave after wave of new Steelhead have moved in and are headed upriver to spawn. Reports on web sites that the run is over and put a fork in it a couple weeks ago was quite simply a voice of inexperience. Yesterday our guides reported and caught many, many new Steelhead.
I have said all along that Steelhead or any migratory fish species are motivated by several things, but one of the strongest motivators is "Solstice", or season. Sure water temperatures and flow will and can trigger a a early run upriver but not all fish will respond to this. This year has proved this true. For 40 years I have studied and fly-fished Michigan Steelhead. What I have observed in these years is that instinct and genetics of this great fish continues to surprise and outsmart man.
The fact that most anglers and transient guides have listened to web reports and gone home has presented some rare April opportunities to fish Steelhead undisturbed by anglers.
The weather forecast for the coming week or so looks cold and should keep water temps optimum for Steelhead. My suggestion would be to pack a bag and head to the river.
Indy Boat Sport and Travel Show February 17th-26th!
Once again WCO will be the center piece to the Quite Sports section of the Indy Boat Sport and Travel Show. We will be there with 12 booths filled with the best fishing kayaks, fly fishing equipment, great deals on clothing and personalities. We are excited to announce that Blake Young founder of NuCanoe will be there to answer questions about NuCanoe the first weekend. The second weekend will feature Thomas Flemons of Diablo there to help us introduce Diablo kayaks to the masses. Ray Schmidt will also be there the first weekend to talk about fly fishing in Michigan. We look forward to seeing all of you at the show!!!*
Indiana on the Fly Saturday January 7th!!!
Indiana on the Fly is Indiana's only Fly Fishing show and is coming up on Saturday January 7th. The show is supported by the fly fishing community of Indiana and surrounding states like Michigan, Ohio and Wisconsin. It is an excellent opportunity to come and visit the two local fly fishing only outfitters WCO and Orvis and also visit with some of the other outstanding professionals from both Indiana and the Midwest. As a fly fishing outfitter we feel strongly about the show and it's continued success. We also feel it is important to continue to improve the selection of gear we bring to the show each year. This year we are really ramping up for the show and bringing more rods, reels, fly lines, gadgets, waders, boots, kayaks and fly fishing lifestyle gear to the show.So come down on the 7th at the Indiana State Fairgrounds and enjoy the day. It is for you and it would be a shame to miss all the fun. Come by our huge booth and enter to win a FREE FLOAT TRIP down Sugar Creek with Chad J. Miller.
Steelhead Report
The Fall Steelhead run has been solid in most places in the Michigan and Ohio. With better water conditons this year coupled with a strong healthy population of fish, it has been a better than average year thus far. Certain places in Michigan like the Big Manistee have been tremendous. Other places like the Muskegon and the St. Joe have been solid but maybe not spectacular.
We of course don't take peoples word for it we go and actually fish these places. Mike Marc and Chad have been fishing several times in both Michigan and Ohio in the last month and have had some outstanding days and some okay days, such is fall Steelheading. WCO is the central Indiana hub on Steelhead knowledge and tackle, so if you have any questions feel free to come in and talk to our fly fishing staff. We are ready to help with questions from everything from tackle to current fishing conditions on the best Steelhead water in the region. No Bait No Spinning Rods Just Fly Fishing!!!
Carp Ninja!!!
For many years those who come into Wildcat Creek Outfitters know Eric Corya, also known as Carp Man. He has passed down his skills to his underling Mike Exl. Mike has now progressed into a full-fledged Carp expert; catching several hundred a year.
Now Eric has ascended to another plane; one in which we have only heard of but thought was urban legend. He has become a Carp Ninja! That’s right you heard me; Carp Ninja. Ascending to the level of a Carp Ninja is something that has not happened in hundreds of years and from our understanding it has never happened in this part of the world.
This revelation came one afternoon as Mike and Eric where fishing. Mike hustled down the bank to the water thinking he would get to the fish before Eric. Eric was up by the truck putting his gear together. Mike waded in and to his astonishment Eric simply materialized across the creek from him within casting distance of the pod of fish Mike was getting ready to wade to. For Carp Ninja’s there is no need for wading it only scares fish. So they have the unique ability to materialize where needed. Eric won’t talk openly about it so don’t bring it up, not sure what happens if you do. Freaks me out man!
Talk about freaky! Imagine fishing a place where you might seem alone and out of nowhere appears Eric “Carp Ninja” Corya downstream standing in the water; not a ripple! He of course would never crowd you he is way to kind of a ninja to do that. He only uses his powers for good. Of course he would crowd Mike Exl in a second; the master must keep the apprentice in his proper place. We are a little worried though; if Eric now has these powers will Mike eventually get them as well. Let’s hope Mike will use his Carp Ninja skills for good and not evil! I think he will use his powers for good. As Mike likes to say there is a Carp at the end of every Rainbow.
Five Rivers Lodge/Gallo Wine Trip
We had a tremendous trip to Montana this past week. The fishing was good as usual and of course all of our wine connoisseur/fly fishing guests had a tremendous time catching big trout and interacting with the people from Gallo. We have added a few pictures here to show the good time had by all and some of the beautiful trout caught from the Jefferson, Beaverhead, Big Hole and McCoy's Spring Creek.
As you can see we had a full house this year and plan on doing something similar next year. If you are interested in having a wine week for a large corporate group; entertaining your best customers, give WCO Travel a call and we can arrange this for you and your customers. We can easily handle up to 24 people. If you need any more info let us know, enjoy the pictures!
As you can see we had a full house this year and plan on doing something similar next year. If you are interested in having a wine week for a large corporate group; entertaining your best customers, give WCO Travel a call and we can arrange this for you and your customers. We can easily handle up to 24 people. If you need any more info let us know, enjoy the pictures!
Bolton Lake Report/Review
Jim Daugherty
Big northern pike on big Finnish raccoon flies, walleyes on the surface on small minnow imitations and dry flies, and beautiful orange-bellied brook trout with sinking fly lines and cone-headed muddlers and wooly buggers. That was Bolton Lake and God's River June 22-25, 2011.
Bolton Lake Lodge in northern Manitoba, Canada, is a family business that does things right. From the coffee delivered at 6:00 am each day to the great dinner meals, Trevor and Jodie do a great job. The cabins are clean and very comfortable. The fishing guides are knowledgeable and very helpful. Their shore lunches are over the top. If you are hungry after shore lunch, it is your own fault. It's on my annual “place to return to” list.
The northern pike seemed to be in a transition phase from the shallow bays to deeper water. They were caught in the shallow reef areas where the wind was blowing in on that area, as well as in the main lake “cabbage patch” weed beds. Red/white and Chartreuse/orange seemed to be the most productive colors of the finn raccoon flies. Mike and Marc hooked up with trophies of 42 inch and 41 inch pike, respectively. I managed a 39 inch and about 30 others on one red/white raccoon fly. It was retired at the end of the day, mangled and with both eyes missing, to an honorable spot on my fly tying bench.
The walleye were plentiful to say the least. The first thing each day was to catch our walleyes for shore lunch. That took about 10 minutes, then we were looking for the big `eyes. White/chartreuse clousers, white minnow imitations (white bass flies in Indiana), and Whitlock's near `nuff crawdad were all winning flies for the deeper water approach. There were a couple of spots on the lake where the walleyes were feeding on the surface. There was a very small white fly of some type hatching and the walleye didn't just sip them in like trout, they came sometimes completely out of the water to feed. When they were “porpoising” like that, Marc was able to catch some on dries and surface lures. These porpoising walleyes were not the small fish either. They were 23 to 26 inches. Marc watched a 29 inch caught by the float plane pilot.
The water conditions of God's River were quite different this year compared to 2010. Last year we fished on the rocks or on shore most of the day. This year the water was higher by 4 to 5 feet and there were no rocks or shoreline. The water was rocking and rolling. Our groups fished the river two days. The water conditions did not change between the days, but the fishing certainly did. The first day the brookies were in the slower, “softer” water, the gentle flow, and behind rock piles. The second day they were in the fastest water, the big rapids, and on the edges of the swiftest water. Of the 42 brook trout we caught, 19 were over 20 inches and several were 22 inches. Besides the beautiful colors, brookies are a tremendous fighting fish. The orange belly, the silver spots with red dots, the golden spots, the fighting spirit….how can you not love the brook trout? God's River is the perfect spot for them to live.
Big northern pike on big Finnish raccoon flies, walleyes on the surface on small minnow imitations and dry flies, and beautiful orange-bellied brook trout with sinking fly lines and cone-headed muddlers and wooly buggers. That was Bolton Lake and God's River June 22-25, 2011.
Bolton Lake Lodge in northern Manitoba, Canada, is a family business that does things right. From the coffee delivered at 6:00 am each day to the great dinner meals, Trevor and Jodie do a great job. The cabins are clean and very comfortable. The fishing guides are knowledgeable and very helpful. Their shore lunches are over the top. If you are hungry after shore lunch, it is your own fault. It's on my annual “place to return to” list.
The northern pike seemed to be in a transition phase from the shallow bays to deeper water. They were caught in the shallow reef areas where the wind was blowing in on that area, as well as in the main lake “cabbage patch” weed beds. Red/white and Chartreuse/orange seemed to be the most productive colors of the finn raccoon flies. Mike and Marc hooked up with trophies of 42 inch and 41 inch pike, respectively. I managed a 39 inch and about 30 others on one red/white raccoon fly. It was retired at the end of the day, mangled and with both eyes missing, to an honorable spot on my fly tying bench.
The walleye were plentiful to say the least. The first thing each day was to catch our walleyes for shore lunch. That took about 10 minutes, then we were looking for the big `eyes. White/chartreuse clousers, white minnow imitations (white bass flies in Indiana), and Whitlock's near `nuff crawdad were all winning flies for the deeper water approach. There were a couple of spots on the lake where the walleyes were feeding on the surface. There was a very small white fly of some type hatching and the walleye didn't just sip them in like trout, they came sometimes completely out of the water to feed. When they were “porpoising” like that, Marc was able to catch some on dries and surface lures. These porpoising walleyes were not the small fish either. They were 23 to 26 inches. Marc watched a 29 inch caught by the float plane pilot.
The water conditions of God's River were quite different this year compared to 2010. Last year we fished on the rocks or on shore most of the day. This year the water was higher by 4 to 5 feet and there were no rocks or shoreline. The water was rocking and rolling. Our groups fished the river two days. The water conditions did not change between the days, but the fishing certainly did. The first day the brookies were in the slower, “softer” water, the gentle flow, and behind rock piles. The second day they were in the fastest water, the big rapids, and on the edges of the swiftest water. Of the 42 brook trout we caught, 19 were over 20 inches and several were 22 inches. Besides the beautiful colors, brookies are a tremendous fighting fish. The orange belly, the silver spots with red dots, the golden spots, the fighting spirit….how can you not love the brook trout? God's River is the perfect spot for them to live.
